Bottle vending machine



Nov. 16, 1937. F. DE MAYO, JR-

BOTTIJE VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l F/mA/K QEM ya .12

ATTORNEY 5 Nov. 16, 1937. F. DE MAY JR I 2,099,557

BO'UITLE VENDING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I QINVENTOR. FRANK DEM/1 r0 ./R.

ATTORNEYS -Nov. 16, 1937. F. DE MAYO, JR 2,099,557 Y BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1936 s sheets-shea s I12 [/4 102 me INVENT OR.

fim/vx 0: MA r0 JR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Frank De Mayo, Jr., Kansas City,: Mo., assignor to Vendo Sales Company, a corporation Application August 29, 1936, Serial No. 98,491

12 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines of the type having coin-actuated mechanism and means for successively presenting bottles so that they may be withdrawn from the vending ma-.

chine by the operator thereof.

The primary object of this invention is top-rovide a vending machine for bottled goods, having a magazine for holding the bottles in predetermined positions, and means for presenting an k the opposite direction.

opening adjacent each one of the bottles in successive sequence so that one bottle may be withdrawn from the machine without permitting access to the remaining ones.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a vending machine,- having coacting stationary and movable plates, each provided with openings therethrough which register successively with underlying bottledgoods; said openings through the plates being substantially the same diameter as the bottle so that upon manual manipulation of the machine by way of inserting a coin,. one bottle may be withdrawn from the machine.

A still further aim of this invention is the provision in a vending machine of the character described, of two apertured plates, one of which is movable with respect to the other, and has its apertures disposed in such manner as to always have one of its apertures in register with an aperture of the stationary plate at the end of each step-by-step movement that is imparted to the movable plate through the novel actuating means forming a part of the machine.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide coin-slot-controlled mechanism for moving the aforesaid apertured movable plate in one di-' rection, and precluding the movement thereof in Further objects of specific structural elements, their combination and unique manner of operation, all of which will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bottle vending machine made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross sectional view through the same. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detailed, fragmentary, sectional viewof a portion of the vending machine, taken on line III-III of Fig. 5, showing the operating mechanism associated with a coin slide.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the the invention include the.

' actuating mechanism in another position and the coin slide at the end of its inward stroke.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view, taken along line V-V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the case top, removed from normal position, and,

. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view, taken on line VH-VII of Fig. 4.

It is desirable to provide means for refrigerating all of the vendable bottles in a machine of this character while the same are awaiting withdrawal and, therefore, case 8 is a box-like structure, having insulated side walls and bottom and an open top, which is closed by a stationary plate l0, provided with apertures I2. Plate l0 extends across the top of case 8 and rests thereon at its periphery. A downtumed wall 14 telescopes into case 8 and a gasket l6 seals the joint. A lock l8 may be provided to maintain plate H] in position against removal by unauthorized persons.

' In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 particularly, openings 52 are arranged in two annular concentric paths. The openings i2 disposed in the outer annular path are in staggered relation with those openings l2 disposed in the inner annular path, and the diameter of said openings 12 is substantially the same as the diameter of bottles that are housed within case 8..

Bottles 20 are also disposed in two annular paths immediately below the annular paths of openings l2, and there is a bottle 20 immediately below each opening l2; The vertical. axes of the bottles are on the axes of openings l2, and such position of bottles 20 is insured through the employment of a suitable rack 22, formed to present stalls for bottles'ifi, equalin number to the-number of openings l2. Cracked ice or other suitable cooling means may be disposed within case 8 to keep bottles 20 and their contents properly chilled prior to sale. Rack 22 may be made of any suitable material, such as wire or sheet metal, but it is preferred that grill work be employed so that'the action of the cracked ice may be eflicient .and rapid in fulfilling its purpose.

'A movable plate 24, in this instance rotatable. about the axis of the annular paths within which is disposed openings I2, is mounted between stationary plate Ill and bottles 20. This plate 24 is provided with two apertures 26 and 28 respectively, the first of which has its center on the central line of the inner annular path having openings l2 arranged thereon. -Outer aperture 28 has its center on the central line of the outer path upon which is positioned openings l2, and apertures 26 extending radially from the axis of rotation of plate 24.

Reenforcing plate 88, secured to movable plate 24 by rivets or analogous means 32, forms a bearing for plate 24, which comprises a bolt 84 and ball bearings 36. Such means for rotatably mounting plate 24 is satisfactory when assisted by rollers 38 that are carried in opposed relation by brackets 48 mounted upon plate I8. The

annular peripheral flange '42 formed at the edge of movable plate 24 rides over rollers 38 as force is imparted to plate 24 to move the same.

Step-by-step movement must be transmitted to movable plate 24 and the means detailed in Figs. 3, 4, and '7 constitutes one embodiment of mechanism found practical for the purpose. The vending machine is operated through the insertion of a suitable coin and a conventional coin slide 44, having a member 46 mounted for rectilinear reciprocation, constitutes a part of such a slide. When a coin 48 is inserted in opening 58 of slide 46, it is free to move inwardly to the end of its path of travel, and as such movement transpires, the mechanism interposed between member 46 and plate 24 is actuated. Plate 24 and reeniorcing plate 88 have a series of holes 52 formed theretlirough. These holes 52 are arranged in an annular path to present a circular rack disposed directly beneath the rotatable pin-wheel 54, mounted in housing 56, with the rest of the mechanism.

Housing 56 is carried in any suitable manner on the top of plate I8, and wheel 54 projects through a slot 58 formed in plate I8, so as to come into engagement with holes 52 formed in plates 24 and 88. Radially extending pins 68, integral with'wheel 54 are shaped as illustrated in Fig.

. 5, so that the ends are tapered. Holes 52 should be elliptical, to the end that binding will not occur as wheel 54 is rotated.

Adog 62, pivotally mounted as at 64 has one end yieldably urged against the annular edge of wheel 54 by a spring 66. This dog 62 strikes an adjacent pin 68 and precludes movement of wheel 54 until it is released from such engagement. A laterally extending ear 68, on dog 62, is in the path of travel of lug l8 and lifter link 12 which slides to and fro in slot 14 formedin bracket 16, within housing 56. As will hereinafter be set down, dog 62 is released just prior to the time the mechanism rotates wheel 54. Another dog I8, pivotally mounted to bracket 16 as at 88,'has its free end movable to and from a position against the annular edge of wheel 54 and behind pins 68. A spring. 82 yieldably maintains this last mentioned dog 18 against the wheel so that it cannot be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, which is opposite to its normal direction of travel, indicated by the arrowin Fig. 5.

'Wheel 54 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending stubs 84, projecting from one of its faces and engageable by rocker 86, pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 88, to bell crank lever 88. A spring 82, joining one end of rocker 86 and lever 88, urges the other end of rocker 86 against the side of wheel 54, from which projects stubs 84. When rocker 86 is moved in one direction, it will tend to drive wheel 54, but when moving in the other direction, rocker 86 will snap past any stub 84 which it might engage.

and 28 are in alignment with respect to a line which permits pivotal movement at the joint formed thereby.

Reference to Fig. 3 will readily teach that lifter link and rocker I2 and 86 respectively are carried by one free end of lever 88, while the other free end thereof, is provided with a. pin 88, which projects into slot I88, provided in bracket I82 that is rigidly secured to slidable member 46 of coin slide 44 by bolts I84. Pin 88 is engaged by bracket I82 at one end of slot I88 after member 46 has moved inwardly a sufllcient amount to carry coin 48 into housing 56 and past the point where withdrawal can take place. Immediately thereafter, and as soon as bracket I82 strikes pin 88, lever 88 will be actuated. Housing 56 is pro 'vided with a money drawer I86 and a slide I88, carried by the inner face of one wall of housing 56,-receives one edge of bracket I82 to support the same as it is being moved.

After plate 24 has completed one revolution about its axis at 34, all of bottles 28 will normally be removed from case 8, and it is therefore desirable to lock the entire vending machine against further manipulation. The means for fulfilling this object of the invention is exemplified in the form of a U-shaped member Il8'and its associated parts. This member H8 is reciprocably mounted in a bracket I I2, that is secured to the inner face of one wall of housing 56. A spring H4, bearing against bracket H2 at its one end, and against a washer H6 carried by member H8 at its other end, constantly urges both legs of U-shaped member H8 downwardly, but such downward movement is not permitted until lock opening H8 comes into registenor alignment with one leg of member H8. This lock opening H8 is formed through movable plate 24 and the end of member H8 slides over the upper surface of plate, 24 as it is rotated in step-by-step manner until opening H8 receives the end of member I I8.

The locked position is illustrated in dotted lines of Fig. 7, and not only does member H8 serve to secure plate 24 against further movement, but enters notch I28, formed in member 46 of coin slide 44. Thus both legs of U-shaped member H8 are serving as locks and neither the coin slide nor mechanism previously set down can be moved in any direction.

Operation Assuming the parts of the operating mechanism are in the position shown in Fig. 3, and member I I8 is riding over the upper face of plate 24. Slidable member 46 is moved inwardly to carry coin 48 to a place within housing 56 and also to move bracket I82 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Such movement of the bracket actuates bell crank lever 88, and pin 88 thereof is forced forwardly around pivotal point 94. Member 18 strikes member 68 on dog 62 to raise it from engagement with pin 68 just before rocker 86 engages stub 84 to force wheel 54 about its axis. As wheel 54 is rotated, pins 68 thereon engage holes 52 to rotate Plate 24. The distance of travel of plate 24 is enough to bring aperture 26 into register with one of openings I 2 of the inner path thereof when aperture 28 is in register with one of openings I2 of the outer path. When aperture 28 is in register with one of openings 92 of the outer path, a portion of plate I8 between adjoining openings I2 bridges inner aperture 26 to preclude removal of bottles through that aperture. Likewise, when aperture 26 is in register with one of the inner openings I2, aperture 28 is bridged by that portion of plate I8 between outer openings l2. Thus movement imparted to plate 24 alternately brings into register apertures 26 and 28 with openings l2 in first the inner path and then an opening [2 in the outer path.

One complete revolution of plate 24, therefore, serves to vend a double row of bottles 20 and the capacity of the vending machine is increased over that which it would be capable of vending if but a single row of openings I! were provided and buta single aperture formed to successively register with the apertures.

After the operating mechanism has'stepped up plate 24, slide 56 is withdrawn, pin 98 is engaged within one end of slot I00 by bracket I02, and rocker 86 is snapped back over the next succeeding stub 84. Dog 62 drops into the position shown in Fig. 5, and the machine is again ready for a coin to be inserted.

The operation of locking member H0 has been made clear to the efiect thatwhen opening H8 is brought beneath one leg of member I It), said leg will drop into the hole tb lock the parts of the mechanism against movement. The other leg of U-shaped member Ill] drops into notch I20 of slide 46 to lock it against movement. When the operator refills thev machine with bottles, locking member I I0 is withdrawn from the locking position and the entire mechanism reset for vending another filling of bottles.

It is conceivable that the concepts of this invention might be embodied in machines having widely varying characteristics, and different from the specific form illustrated in the drawings and, therefore, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in an annular path within the case; a stationary plate, provided with openings, in alignment with the bottles, forming one side of the case; a movable plate having apertures therethrough, supported by the stationary plate and disposed between the bottles and said stationary plate; and mechanism, supported by the stationary plate, for moving the movable plate to bring one of its apertures into register with one of the openings of the stationary plate, the remaining openings of the stationary plate being. closed by the movable plate while one of its apertures is in register with one of the openings of the stationary plate.

2. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in an annular path within the case; a stationary plate, provided with openings, in alignment with the bottles, forming one side of the case; a movable plate having apertures therethrough, supported by the stationary plate and disposed between the bottles and said stationary plate; and mechanism, supported by the stationary plate, for moving the movable plate to bring one of its apertures into register with one of the openings of the stationary plate, the remaining openings of the stationaryplate being closed by the movable plate while one of of its apertures is in register with one of the openings of the stationary plate, the diameters of said openingsand apertures being slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles whereby when the aperture and the opening are in register one of the bottles may be withdrawn from the case.

step-by-step movement to scribed comprising a case;

- anism supported 3. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in an annular pathwithin the case; a stationary plate, provided with openings, arranged. in an annular path, forming the top of said case; a movable plate, supported by the stationary plate, having an aperturetherein, disposed between the bottles and said stationary plate, and in a path of travel below all the openings of said stationary plate; and mechanism, supported by the stationary plate, for imparting step-by-step movement to the movable plate to successively move the aperture into register with the openings of said stationary plate to permit withdrawal of the said bottles one at a time. I

. 4.A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in an annular path within the case; a stationary plate, provided with openings, arranged in an annular path, forming the top of said case; a movable plate, supported by the stationary plate, having an aperture therein, disposed between the bottles and said stationary plate, and in apath of travel below all the openings of said stationary plate; mechanism supported by the stationary plate for imparting the movable. plate to successively move the aperture into register with the openings of said stationary plate to permit withdrawal of the said bottles one at a time; and means automatically operable by the movable plate to secure the movable plate against further movement when the same has been .moved to a predetermined position with respect to said stationary plate.

5. A vending machine of the character demeans for holding a bottles arranged in two annular paths within the case; a stationary plate, provided with an opening in axial alignment with each of the bottles respectively, said plate'forming the top of by the stationary plate at the axis of said annular paths, said plate being provided with apertures in annular paths in alignment with the two annular paths respectively of the bottles, and openings of the stationary plate; and means, supported by the stationary plate, for imparting stepby-step rotation to the rotatable plate for successively bringing the apertures thereof into register with the openings of said stationary plate, the openings of said stationary plate that are in one of the annular paths being in staggered relation with the openings of the said stationary plate that are in the other annular path, said apertures of the movable plate having their axes in alignment on a radial line whereby the openings in said two paths are alternately and successively registered with the apertures of the movable plate as the same is rotated about itsaxis.

6. A vending machine of the character described comprising a case; means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in an annular path within the case; a stationary plate, provided with openings, arranged in an annular path, forming the top of said case; a movable plate, having an aperture therein, supported by the stationary plate, disposed between the bottles and said stationary plate, and in a path of travel below all the openings of said stationary plate; and mechby the stationary plate for imparting step-by-step movement to the movable plate to successively move the aperture into register with the openings of said stationary plate plurality of said case; a plate rotatably supported to permit withdrawal of the said bottles one at a time, said mechanism for imparting movement' to the movable plate having means for confining such movement to but one direction.

'7. In a vending machine of the character described, the combination with means for holding a plurality of bottles arranged in two annular paths, of a stationary plate overlying the bottles 1 provided with an opening above each bottle respectively; a movable plate, pivotally supported by a stationary plate, between the bottles and said stationary plate, having apertures formed therethrough for registering with the openings in the stationary plate, saidaperturesbeing arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annular path then the other, said movable plate serving to close all the openings of the stationary plate but that registered with an aperture of the movable plate when an opening and an aperture are in register; and mechanism, supported'by the stationary plate for imparting stepby-step movement to the movable plate.

8. In a vending machine of the character described having a plurality of stationary bottles arranged in two annular paths; a stationary plate overlying the bottles provided with an opening above each bottle respectively; and a movable plate pivotally supported between the bottles and said stationary plate having apertures formed therethrough for registering with the openings in the stationary plate, said apertures being arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annularpath then the other, said movable plate serving to closeall the openings of the arranged in two annular paths; a stationary plate overlying the bottles provided with an opening above each bottle respectively; andqa movable plate pivotally supported between the bottles and said stationary plate having apertures formed therethrough for'registering with the openings in the stationary plate, said apertures being arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annular path then the other, said movable plate serving to close all the openings of the stationary plate but that registered with an aperture of the movable plate when an opening and an aperture are in register the combination of} mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the movable plate comprising an annular rack formed on the movable plate, a-pinion having pins in engagement with the rack, and a coin releasable slide having a reciprocable member op-' eratively connected with the pinion for turning the same when the said slide is moved in one direction.

10. In a vending machine of the character described having a plurality of stationary bottles arranged in two annular paths; a stationary plate overlying the bottles provided with an opening above each bottle respectively; and a movable plate pivotally supported between the bottles and said stationary plate having apertures tionary plate. v

formed therethrough for registering with the openings in the stationary plate, said apertures being arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annular path then the other, said movable plate serving to close all the openings of the stationary plate but that registered with an aperture of the movable plate when an opening, and an aperture are in register the combination of mechanism for imparting stepby-step movement to the movable plate comprising an annular rack formed on the movable plate, a pinion having pins thereon in engagement with the rack, a bell crank lever, and a coin slide having a reciprocable member in connection with one end of the said lever, the other end of said bell crank lever having means for engaging and turning the pinion as the lever travels in one direction, the connection between the slide and reciprocable member being a loose one to permit a limited amount of movement of the said reciprocable member before the bell crank lever is forced against the pinion.

11. In a vending machine of the character described having a plurality or stationary bottles arranged in two annular paths; a stationary plate overlying the bottles provided with an opening above each bottle respectively; and a movable plate pivotally supported between the bottles and said stationary plate having apertures formed therethrough for registering with the openings in the'stationary plate, said apertures being arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annular path then the other, said mov-' able plate serving to close all the openings of the stationary plate but that registered with an aperture of the movable plate when an opening and an aperture are in register the combination of mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the-movableplate comprising a rack formed on the movable plate, a pinion in engagement with the rack and manually operable levers for turning the pinion, said rack being in an annular path for causing the movable plate to complete a revolution, said movable plate having a locking member automatically engageable therewith when the movable plate has completed one revolution from a predetermined posiabove each bottle respectively; and a movable .plate pivotally supported between the bottles and said stationaryplate having apertures formed therethrough for registering with the openings in the stationary plate, said apertures being arranged to register alternately with openings in first one annular path then the other, said movable plate serving to close all the openings of the stationary plate but that registered with anaperture of the movable plate when an opening andan aperture are in registerthe combination of mechanism for imparting step-by-step movement to the movable plate comprising a rack formed on the movable plate, a pinion in engagement with the'rack and manually operable levers for turning the pinion, said movable plate and the manually operable levers having a locking member automatically engageable therewith when the movable plate has completed one revolution from a predetermined position with respect to said sta- FRANK on MAYO, Jn. 

